New research station to be set up in Idukki to ensure productivity in plantation sector

A new research station is being established at the Government Engineering College in Idukki to enhance productivity within the plantation industry. The State government has approved the establishment of the facility at the college, with the aim of utilizing cutting-edge technology to address the challenges facing the sector. Principal investigators for the initiative include Manju Manuel, Philumon Joseph, and R. Sreekumar from the college.

The primary objective is to deploy innovative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, and drone systems to tackle issues like labor shortages, high production costs, challenging terrain, and climate change. The project will involve the design and testing of smart irrigation systems, robotic harvesters, and drone-assisted pest control solutions.

Research will be conducted across multiple engineering departments, with a focus on creating cost-effective automation tools specifically tailored for plantation crops. The initial targets of research will be four key cash crops: cardamom, tea, coffee, and nutmeg. The center aims to develop technology to detect plant diseases early, protect crop yields, and mechanize harvesting processes for crops like nutmeg.

Consultation with commodity boards will guide the selection of specific interventions to address chronic labor shortages, pest infestations, and declining output. The tea sector, which has been particularly affected, is expected to benefit from automation, as demonstrated by the recent deployment of heavy-lift drones by Harrisons Malayalam Limited (HML) to transport tea leaves from challenging hillside locations to processing centers.